Pours a rich, dark brown. Aromas of sweet bourbon and wood; chocolate, vanilla; fantastic nose. Such a clean malt profile that’s bolstered by booze and sweet bourbon. Amazing offering out of Shipyard, the quality of this caught me by surprise.

Great job shipyard!! Put a sour barrel in a bottle and try to sell it as s regular beer!!! Did you think people wouldn't know. Funny thing is a brewer of yours came to nj and soured every beer at the place he worked!!! You guys plain suck at brewing. Close the doors!!
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

UPDATED: OCT 24, 2014 Sample at GABF 10/03/2014, thanks to my sis for assistance with note-taking. Dark reddish-brown color with a medium beige head that diminishes gradually. Small patches of lace. Aroma of bourbon, malt and chocolate. Full-bodied with flavors of oaky bourbon, peaty malt and slight black licorice. The finish is boozy with a malt and bourbon aftertaste. Pretty good overall.

750 mlBottle, vintage is 2012 bottle number 08897. With an ABV of 11.6. Dark brown bordering on black, no head. Aroma is nearly all bourbon barrel with light caramel and vanilla.

Flavor is pretty nice without any oxidation. Mild chocolate, caramel, toasted nuts with light dark fruit hints all the while with a strong level of bourbon notes. Light raisin notes. The heat after the sip is here but without any alcohol taste. The texture is oily / slickly with a milder level of carbonation. Really damn smooth. The body is leaning on full, the scotch ale base is here and has integrated with the bourbon nicely, very surprised how nice this is.

"Not very scotch ale like, at least not in the traditional sense. No peat, but very malty and chocolatey, with molasses, licorice, and a good dose of bourbon. Wavy barreling and abv, but pretty smooth with just the slightest bit of astringency as it warms. Far and away the best I’ve had from Shipyard."

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community.
Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.
Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!